CVE-2014-6349 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-6350.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11 that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. The issue stems from improper handling of certain object types within the browser's memory management system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass standard security boundaries and escalate their access rights. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's interaction with COM objects and memory allocation mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate object references and execute code outside the intended security context. This flaw operates through a combination of memory corruption techniques and privilege escalation methods that leverage the browser's trust model and object lifecycle management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves exploiting a race condition in how Internet Explorer handles object references during memory deallocation processes. Attackers can craft malicious web content that triggers specific memory operations, causing the browser to improperly manage object lifecycles and create exploitable memory states. The flaw typically manifests when the browser attempts to process crafted JavaScript or ActiveX components that manipulate object pointers in ways that violate normal memory management protocols. This creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into higher-privileged memory regions or manipulate existing objects to achieve privilege escalation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflows where insufficient space is allocated for data. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Once an attacker gains elevated privileges through this vulnerability, they can install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, and establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of Internet Explorer 10 and 11, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that have not yet migrated to newer browser versions. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur through standard web browsing activities without requiring physical access to the target system, making it an attractive target for widespread exploitation campaigns. Organizations running affected browsers are particularly vulnerable during routine web browsing activities, as the attack can be triggered by visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted email attachment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate patch deployment and browser security hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates that address the underlying memory management issues and correct the object reference handling that enables privilege escalation. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant security patches and consider implementing browser security controls such as enhanced Protected Mode, restricted ActiveX controls, and sandboxing mechanisms. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based controls to block access to known malicious domains, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potentially compromised systems. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current browser versions and implementing comprehensive security policies that include regular updates, user education about phishing risks, and monitoring for suspicious web activity. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement incident response procedures specifically designed to handle privilege escalation attacks in browser environments.